Aussie tennis champ serves an advocacy ace for World Vision

The development and hunger relief charity made the announcement as the Australian Open carnival kicked off in Melbourne this week.

The pro bono role will see de Minaur focus on raising awareness of World Vision’s work, inspiring Australians to help make a difference in the world and encouraging them to donate to the organisation’s programs.

The tennis player, who has just broken into the world top ten rankings, will use his profile to shine a light on global issues affecting children, such as poverty, lack of education and limited access to healthcare.

Alex said he felt honoured to join World Vision as an ambassador.

“Tennis has given me a platform and now I want to use it to make a positive impact on the lives of children in need,” he said.

“Together with World Vision, we can make a real difference."

The appointment marks a significant step in charities leveraging the influence of sports personalities to drive positive change and inspire others to contribute to humanitarian causes.

Other high-profile Australian sports stars to have signed up as charity ambassadors include:

• F1 racing driver Daniel Ricciardo (Save the Children)
• Former AFL Carlton Football Club great Anthony Koutoufides, swimmer Susie “Madame Butterfly” O’Neill, long distance runner Steve Moneghetti and five-time world triathlete champion Craig Alexander (KIDS Foundation)
• Australian test cricketer Marnus Labuschagne (The Chappell Foundation)

World Vision said de Minaur is passionate about helping vulnerable young people, particularly in First Nations communities.

On the eve of the Australian Open, he met two participants in World Vision’s Young Mob leadership program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.

Created by Aboriginal communities in NSW, the program is run by World Vision in partnership with Australian primary and secondary schools and local Indigenous people.

The program works with youth from grade 5 to year 12 to build confidence and a positive sense of identity, develop life and leadership skills and strengthen connection to culture.

Young Mob participants and sports mad brothers Luc aged 17 and Matthew, 15 also known as 'Mouse' said they were thrilled to meet the rising Australian tennis star.

“Meeting Alex was an enjoyable experience," said Luc.

"For somebody who is at the peak of his sporting career, he is very down to earth. He made a point of making us feel very welcome and we appreciated him taking time out of his busy schedule for us."

Matthew described de Minaur as very approachable.

"It was an excellent day that we spent with him. He is quite inspirational and a class act. We will be cheering for him every time he sets foot on the court."

The brothers said they found the Young Mob program very engaging.

"I joined the Young Mob program in 2019 when I was in Year 7," said Luc.

"It's taught us many cultural practices, history, and a bit of language through engaging weekly sessions that include camps and excursions that get us out and connected to country.

"I’m privileged to have the opportunity to address the acknowledgement of country for school events on a regular basis, as well as perform NAIDOC and Reconciliation speeches in the community."

Matthew said he was encouraged to join the Young Mob program as a Year 7 student in 2021 by his older sister who had completed it four years earlier and loved it.

“The Young Mob program has taught and encouraged us to have a strong connection to our country and great cultural identity," he said.”

The brothers said the structured sessions provided by Young Mob encourage the development of basic life and social skills such as confidence to be developed.

"Young Mob has also encouraged personal character development and finetuning. Without the program, we believe we would not be the people we are today," said Luc.